The headquarters of Governor Pickens and staff were in the rooms of the Charleston Hotel, and to that place I immediately hied and presented myself before those “August dignitaries,” and asked permission to join my company on Morris’ Island, but was refused.  First, on account of not having a permit of leave of absence from my captain; secondly, on account of my youth (I then being on the rise of 15); and thirdly, having no permission from my parents.  What a contrast with later years, when boys of that age were pressed into service.  The city of Charleston was ablaze with excitement, flags waved from the house tops, the heavy tread of the embryo soldiers could be heard in the streets, the corridors of hotels, and in all the public places.  The beautiful park on the water front, called the “Battery,” was thronged with people of every age and sex, straining their eyes or looking through glasses out at Sumter, whose bristling front was surmounted with cannon, her flags waving defiance.  Small boats and steamers dotted the waters of the bay.  Ordnance and ammunition were being hurried to the island.  The one continual talk was “Anderson,” “Fort Sumter,” and “war.”  While there was no spirit of bravado, or of courting of war, there was no disposition to shirk it.  A strict guard was kept at all the wharves, or boat landings, to prevent any espionage on our movements or works.  It will be well to say here, that no moment from the day of secession to the day the first gun was fired at Sumter, had been allowed to pass without overtures being made to the government at Washington for a peaceful solution of the momentous question.  Every effort that tact or diplomacy could invent was resorted to, to have an amicable adjustment.  Commissioners had been sent to Washington, asking, urging, and almost begging to be allowed to leave the Union, now odious to the people of the State, without bloodshed.  Commissioners of the North came to Charleston to treat for peace, but they demanded peace without any concessions, peace with submission, peace with all the chances of a servile war.  Some few leaders at the North were willing to allow us the right, while none denied it.  The leading journal at the North said:  “Let the erring sisters depart in peace.”  But all of our overtures were rejected by the administration at Washington, and a policy of evasion, or dilly-dallying, was kept up by those in authority at the North.  All the while active preparations were going on to coerce the State by force of arms.  During this time other States seceded and joined South Carolina, and formed the “Confederate States of America,” with Jefferson Davis as President, with the capital at Montgomery, Ala.